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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Engum Niraindhaye

From Meera (1945) Film · 1945

Lyricist
Parthi Bhaskar
Singer
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Meera (1945) Film1945

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Male
Aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….Aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….
Female
Engum niraindhaayaeYou who are omnipresent, filling everywhere
Indru engu maraindhaayoWhere have You hidden today?
Engum niraindhaayaeYou who are omnipresent, filling everywhere
Indru engu maraindhaayoWhere have You hidden today?
Engum unai naanEverywhere, I...
Thaedi alaindhaenaeWandered searching for You
Dhayaalan unaiyaeOh Merciful Lord, only You
Engum unai naanEverywhere, I...
Thaedi alaindhaenaeWandered searching for You
Dhayaalan neeyae engum niraindhaayaeOh Merciful One, You fill everywhere!
Female
Mannulagilum vaanor vaazhIn this earthly world, and where heavenly beings live
Vinnulagilum unaiyallaamalIn the celestial realms, except for You
Mannulagilum vaanor vaazhIn this earthly world, and where heavenly beings live
Vinnulagilum unaiyallaamalIn the celestial realms, except for You
Kannum manamum edhaiyum naadaadhaeMy eyes and heart seek nothing else
Prabho muraaraeOh Lord Murari!
Kannum manamum edhaiyum naadaadhaeMy eyes and heart seek nothing else
Prabho muraaraeOh Lord Murari!
Female
Engum niraindhaayaeYou who are omnipresent, filling everywhere
Indru engu maraindhaayoWhere have You hidden today?
Engum unai naan thaedi alaindhaenaeEverywhere I wandered searching for You
Dhayaalan neeyae engu maraindhaayoOh Merciful One, where have You hidden?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Engum Niraindhaayae is a poignant devotional song expressing the deep angst and yearning of a devotee searching for Lord Krishna (Murari). The singer addresses the Divine as an all-pervading omnipresent force that permeates both the earthly and heavenly worlds. Despite His divine presence everywhere, the devotee feels a poignant sense of separation and asks where He is hiding today, declaring that her eyes and mind desire nothing in the entire cosmos except His vision.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Rhyming second letter)

Mannulagilum vaanor vaazh / Vinnulagilum unaiyallaamal

The second letter 'n' (ன்) matches in both 'Mannulagilum' and 'Vinnulagilum', creating a rhythmic Tamil poetic rhyme.

Apostrophe

Dhayaalan neeyae engum niraindhaayae

Directly addressing the deity 'Dhayaalan' (Merciful One) as if He is present before the speaker.

Imagery / Contrast

Engum niraindhaayae / Indru engu maraindhaayo

Contrasts the divinity's omnipresence ('filling everywhere') with His sudden absence/concealment ('hiding today').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Meera' (1945) was a landmark devotional film directed by American filmmaker Ellis R. Dungan, starring the legendary Carnatic singer M. S. Subbulakshmi. The film was later remade in Hindi in 1947, cementing MS Subbulakshmi's status as a nation-wide cultural icon.

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